Table shifting



Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

AUNITED STATES CURT B. MUELLER, OF WEST PARK, OHIO.

TABLE-SHIFTING APPLIANOE.

Application filled December 12, 1919. Serial No. 344,367.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CURT B.,MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Riverside Avenue, in the village of West Park, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Table-Shifting Appliances, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein eX- plained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention entitled a Table shifting appliance relates more particularly to means whereby .a number 'of dining room tables may be promptly and readily removed.

Of late years after dinner speaking has come into general vogue at business mens luncheons and upon other occasions when it is desired to use the same room for delivering an address in which the audience has just been served with a meal. Frequently, the number of tables is so great that many persons are of necessity seated far enough from the speakers table as either to make hearing of what he has to say difficult or else compel him to speak in an unnaturally loud tone of voice. Furthermore, the establishment which is serving the meal is naturally anxious to clear the tables in order that the cleaning and distribution of the utensils thereon may be undertaken. Any attempt to so clear the tables either delays the commencement of the speaking program or else raises a commotion and disturbance which is intolerable. Obviously, to leave the uncleared tablesin place is unsightly and otherwise disagreeable. If the tables are cleared, it either disturbs or delays. If the tables are not cleared the disposition. of the paraphernalia thereon must be deferred` which may be inconvenient to the management. However, the principal objection to speech making in a room where a considerable numberI of persons have eaten, obtains, whether the tables have been `or have not been cleared; and such objection is owing to the wide scattering of the chairs of the audience necessitated by the large percentage of space occupied by the tables. Manifestly, it

is desirable to have the audience cluster its chairs as closelyas possible about the speakers table, so that the speaker need not strain ranged as to preclude the seating in the room by such other persons as may also desire to hear the speaker, but who reither constituted the overflow of the meeting or who deliberately planned to come'after the conclusion of the meal. v

Accordingly, my invention utilizes the rather simple expedient of removing the tables, preferably prior to being cleared, so that as` soon as the eating is finished the added space which the tables occupied is available and all of thechairs maybe compactly clustered about the speakers table. At a given signal cables may be lowered from the ceiling over the approximate middle of each table site in use, and attached by lone of the persons there seated and thereafter following another signal all of the tables may be simultaneously lifted sufficiently high so as not to interfere with the line of vision between the speakers table and the audience. In many instances `it might prove entirely satisfactory to merely draw the tables close up to the ceiling. I have, however, elected to show a ceiling provided with a suitable number of apertures large enough to permit of the table being raised therethrough and of supplying means (trap-doors or slides) for thereafter closing suoli apertures thereby satisfying the esthetic sense of the most fastidious amongstthose present. The expense of such an installation would apparently be well warranted in large hotels and clubs having spacious rooms in which meals are served. Another advantage of permitting the tables to pass through a ceiling is that the proper employees may immediately thereafter proceed to undertake the clearing thereof. It is to be noted also, that after ,the tables have been lifted out of the way and the chairs more closely bunched, a considerable space at the rear of the room becomes Avacated for the accommodation of late comers.

Adverting to the drawing zrFigure I is a vertical section of what may be considered a hotel dining room sho-wing a plurality of tables in elevation therein and also showing different features of my invention in altered positions. l

Figure II is an elevation of certain 'con trol mechanism outside the room and is to be' considered as taken on line II--II of Figure I. i

What may be considered as a hotel ball room which is commonly converted t0 a dining` room, includes a Hoor l, a side wall 2 and a-subceiling 3. Resting upon the floor 1 is a table 4 which is covered with a cloth upon which miscellaneous eating utensils are shown.

The subceiling 3 is provided with an aperture 5 which is somewhat larger than the top of the table 4. Sliding covers 6 are adapted together to close the aperture 5. The'mode ofv operating the covers 6 is of no importance nor istheirparticular manner` of support nor their location with respect to either the top or bottom ofthe subceiling 3. Elevated s a distance above the subceiling 3 sufficient to enable a comfortably head room for a standing or walking person is another ceiling 7. Suspended from the ceiling 7 over the middle of the aperture 5 is a bracket 8 carrying a she-ave 9 around whichV a cable 10 may be drawn. The cable 10, between the ceilings 3 and 7 passes over a` drum 11 and thence down to the floor 1 outside of the wall 2. The interior end of the cable 10 is connected with a plurality of divaricating leads or metal rods 12` adapted for quick attachment in any suitable manner at 13 to the table 4. The manner of effecting such attachment is not shown in detail because of no vital consequence, but may be assumed "toinvolve any quickly effected fastening suoli. as a snap hook and eye combination or by means of clamps carried by the ends of the members V12 and adapted to engage the edge of the table top.

Outside of thel wall 2, a convenient distance from the floor 1, is a winding drum 14 mountedon a shaft lisupported in bearings 16. The shaft 15 may be power rotated through a train of gears 17 connecting it with the driving pinion of an electric motor V18.v A clutch actuating lever 19 serves to effect connection or disconnection between the shaft 15y and drum 14 in any approved manner. Each drum is also provided with a brake 19a to secure it against rotation when it is not rotatably connected withthe shaft 15. v

As will now be manifest, the table 4 when grasped by the contrivances 13 may be raised to the aperture 5 whenever the clutch 19 is thrown in, the brake 19a released and the motor 18 actuated in a direction to wind the cable 10 about thedrum 14. After the bottoms of the table legs have `passed above the plane of the sliding covers 6 these may be closed and the table 4 thereafter allowed to restthereon, in a manner shown in the upper left hand corner of the drawing. As will there be observed another bracket 20 carries a sheave 21 over which a separate cable likewise carries divaricating eXtremities 23 which may be either stiff or exible and are to be attachedin any satisfactory manner at a corresponding number of points 24 upon the top of a table 25. rllhe cable 22 likewise passes over the roller 11 and thence down to its own winding drum 26 which is also capable .of being rotatably connected with the shaft 15 by means of a brake 28.

It is to be understood, that ordinarily all of the hoisting drums would be simultaneously driven by the motor 18 so as to liftv all of the tables each through its appropriate aperture in the subceiling 3. In practice, the chairman of the meeting would doubtless first request the persons seated at the tables on the main floor to withdraw their chairs, and-thereafter allow time for uncovering the aperture 5, for letting down the cables and` for attaching the latter to the tables; after which at a given signal all of lthe tables would be gently lifted and raised through the aperture 5. Then the audience would be free to cluster its chairs compactly about the speakers table.y

I claim 1 The combination of a` series of tables arranged in spaced relation on the Hoor of a room and mechanical means for .simultaneously lifting said tables from the room.

2. The combination with a room provided with a multiple apertured ceiling and having .therein a plurality of eating-utensil laden tables and @mechanical means mounted outside of said room for simultaneously lifting said tables through the apertures in saidV ceiling while maintaining their tops substantially horizontal.

3. The combination of a room including a iioor and a ceiling provided with a number of openings, tables located in said room underneath said openings and provided with an attaching contrivance, cables adapted to be passed through each of said openings and each provided with a deviceadapted to be connected with'said contrivances respectively and means above the ceiling fork simultaneously raising or lowerin saidcables.

4. The combination of a dining room having a plurality of set tables therein, doors thereto, a corresponding number of elements adapted to be connected with and disconnected from said tables and means for simultane'ously actuatingy said elements to draw said tables'through said doors.

y5. The combination of a roomincluding a ceiling provided with a number of openings and tables located therein and also provided withan attaching contrivance, cables passed through each of said openinfrs and each provided with adevice adapted to be cables adapted to be connected each With one of a plurality of pieces of furniture in said room and actuating means connected with said cables in line with said apertures for simultaneously moving said cables and furniture pieces through said apertures respectively.

7. The combination With a dining room having a lioor and a ceiling provided With a series of definitely arranged apertures, sliding covers adapted to close said apertures, eating-utensil laden tables definitely arranged on the floor of said room one beneath each of said apertures and an elevating contrivance including devices each composed of a plurality of divaricating and rigid leads adapted to be lowered through said apertures when said covers are Withdrawn and to be connected with said tables to permit of lifting them through said apertures.

8. The combination With a dining room having a floor and a ceiling provided With a -series of definitely arranged apertures, doors adapted to close said apertures, eating-utensil laden tables correspondingly are ranged on the floor of said room and an elevating contrivance including devices adapted to be lowered through said apertures when said doors are open and to be connected -With said tables to permit of lifting them through said apertures preparatory to depositing the tables on the doors after they are closed.

9. The combination of a pair of superposed rooms the floor of one being the ceiling of the other and fashioned With a plurality of openings, a f plurality of utensil-laden tables on the floor of the lower room and below said openings, an elevating contri- Vance movably connected With the ceiling of said upper room and including parts adapted to pass through said openings for connection With said tables, and doors for closing said openings preparatory to clearing the tables in the upper room.

Signed by me, this 8th day of December,

GURT B. MUELLER. 

